Lesson 1 (from Part I: Seeds, December 11, 1906 - May 15, 1939)

Objective

The first chapter introduces us to John Ross and also to his writing style. This lesson discusses John Ross' writing and his strategies for using language to convey meaning.

Lesson

1) Close Reading: Read the first few paragraphs, and analyze the writing style. How does John Ross write? What kinds of words does he use? How are he sentences structured?

2) Small Group Discussion: Ask students to work together in small groups to characterize John Ross' style. When or how does he vary from that cadence ? What does he place emphasis on when he varies from his typical sentences? Ask each group to report back to the class after some time for discussion.

3) Class Discussion: How would you characterize John Ross' values as a writer? What does he talk about? How does he use language to tell his story? Is he neutral...